Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;onyx time cream&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new variety of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Onyx Time Cream,’ having an upright growth habit, a flat capitulum form and medium sized cream-white decorative type flowers.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

[0001] Botanical classification: Dendranthema grandiflora.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

[0002] The new Chrysanthemum variety denomination is ‘Onyx Time Cream.’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, andreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Onyx Time Cream.’

[0004] ‘Onyx Time Cream,’ identified as OTC1, was discovered by MarkBoeder in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom, as a whole plantnatural mutation in a controlled cultivated planting of the unpatentedvariety ‘Onyx Time.’ The new variety ‘Onyx Time Cream’ has beenasexually reproduced by vegetative cuttings in Chichester, West Sussex,United Kingdom and the distinguishing characteristics are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] ‘Onyx Time Cream’ is a pot type of Chrysanthemum plant varietyhaving a flat capitulum form, dark green foliage and medium sizedcream-white decorative-type flowers.

Comparison with Parent

[0006] Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Onyx Time Cream’ aresimilar to the parent cultivar ‘Onyx Time’ in plant habitat and growthrate. In side-by-side comparisons in Chichester, West Sussex, UnitedKingdom, under commercial practice, plants of the new Chrysanthemumvariety ‘Onyx Time Cream’ produced medium sized cream-white flowerswhereas the parent cultivar ‘Onyx Time’ produced white flowers.

Comparison with Other Varieties

[0007] Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Onyx Time Cream’ aredissimilar to the cultivar ‘Surf,’ U.S. Plant Pat. No.4,585, in planthabitat and growth rate. In side-by-side comparisons in Chichester, WestSussex, United Kingdom, under commercial practice, plants of the newChrysanthemum variety ‘Onyx Time Cream’ differed from plants of thecultivar ‘Surf’ in at least the following characteristics:

[0008] 1. The new variety ‘Onyx Time Cream’ produces cream-white flowerswhereas the cultivar ‘Surf’ produces white flowers.

[0009] 2. Plants of the new variety ‘Onyx Time Cream’ have a longerresponse time than plants of the cultivar ‘Surf.’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIONS

[0010] Typical specimens of the plant and flowers for the newChrysanthemum variety ‘Onyx Time Cream’ are shown in the accompanyingscanned image printed from a digital photograph. The colors shown are astrue as possible within the usual limits of this kind of illustration.FIG. 1 is a whole plant view of the new variety ‘Onyx Time Cream’ grownin a pot.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0011] The following description of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘OnyxTime Cream’ is of plants grown in a greenhouse in Chichester, WestSussex, United Kingdom in the month of November 2000. The cultivar hasnot been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Thephenotype may vary significantly with variations in the environment suchas temperature, length of day and light intensity, without any variancein genotype. The commercial classification of the new variety is a potChrysanthemum.

[0012] Plants of the new variety have been grown successfully undertemperature conditions averaging about 19° C. at night and about 17° C.to 24° C. during the day under light conditions of about 5,000 to 6,000foot candles. The plants respond well to the use of growth retardant,such as three B9 treatments at about 2g/liter. To produce a commercialproduct the plants may be pinched once with the center bud removed. Thetypical container size for commercial growth is 1 liter. It has beenobserved that the shelf life of the new variety is about 21 days with aresponse time of about 7.5 weeks.

[0013] The new variety may be produced as a spray. The followingdescription is with respect to a plant produced as spray potChrysanthemum. In the description of this new Chrysanthemum variety,color values have been taken from The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.C.C.).

[0014] Plant:

[0015]Plant type.—pot.

[0016]Habit.—upright.

[0017]Height.—short to very short.

[0018]Branching characteristics (describe).—upright spreading.

[0019]Length of Lateral Branches.—15 cm

[0020]Number of Breaks from Pinch.—4 breaks per pinch.

[0021]Stem Color.—green.

[0022]Response Time.—near 7.5 weeks.

[0023]Vigor.—medium.

[0024]Shelf Life.—near 21 days.

[0025]Disease (susceptibility or resistance observed).—no observations.

[0026]Growth retardant type and treatment.—3 applications of 2gram/liter B9, 2 days, 21 days and 28 days after sticking of unrootedcuttings. The plants were grown for 2 weeks in Long Day conditions (20hrs. light) and then transferred to Short Day conditions (13 hrs. dark).

[0027] Propagation:

[0028]Type.—vegetative propagation via stem cuttings.

[0029]Time to rooting.—14 days with soil temperatures of 18° C.

[0030]Rooting habit.—After 7 Long Days first roots emerge from rootprimordia. In 14 Long Days a complete root system is developed.

[0031] Foliage:

[0032]Number of Leaves Per Lateral Branch.—9-11.

[0033]Compound or single.—single.

[0034]Arrangement of Leaves.—alternate. Shape of Leaf: typically 5lobed, oblong ovate Size of Leaf: Width (cm): 5.5 Length (cm): 12 LeafApex: mucronate Base: cordate Attachment: petioled Aspect: slightundulating Margin: palmately lobed Surface characteristics: Top:pubescent Bottom: pubescent

[0035]Petiole.—Color: 137B Length: 3.4 cm.

[0036]Venation (describe).—net, prominent midvein at underside Color:upper side: 147D under side: 147C.

[0037]Color.—Mature Leaf, upper side: 137A; under side: 137 B YoungLeaf, upper side: 137B; underside: 137C.

[0038] Flower:

[0039]Flower type.—decorative.

[0040]Number of blossoms per branch.—3-4.

[0041]Inflorescence form.—cyme Depth of fully expanded blossoms: near 2cm Diameter of fully expanded blossoms: near 1.0 cm Anemone centerdiameter: near 1.0 cm.

[0042]Sepals.—Number: 19-23 Color: near 137A Length: 1.3 cm Width: 0.35cm Texture/Appearance: pubescent.

[0043]Peduncle.—Peduncles are more or less equal in length over allflowers and on average 5.5 cm. Length: near 5.5 cm Color: near 137BSurface: pubescent Habit: slightly undulating Strength: medium.

[0044]Pedicel.—Length: terminal: near 15.5 cm; lateral: near 15.5 cmColor: near 137B Surface: pubescent Habit: slightly undulating Strength:medium.

[0045]Ray Florets.—Form/Shape: straight, elliptic Texture/Appearance:matte Number per flower: 200-220 Length: 0.5-3.5 cm Width: 0.2 - 1.0 cmApex: rounded Base: tapered Margin: entire.

[0046]Disc florets.—Form/Shape: cylindric Texture/Appearance: shinyNumber per flower: 10-14 Length: 0.2-0.3 cm; Width 0.05-0.1 cm Diameterof disc: near 0.3 cm.

[0047]Fragrance.—faint.

[0048]Flower Bud (at onset of color).—Length: near 0.7 cm Diameter: near1 cm Form/shape: spherical.

[0049]General flower color.—creamy white ray florets with greencenter 1. Ray florets, upper side: Immature: near 9C Mature: near 158DOlder/Fading: near 155D 2. Ray florets, under side: Immature: near 9CMature: near 158D Older/Fading: near 155D 3. Disc florets: Immature:near 8C Mature: near 138D Older/Fading: near 8C 4. Bud: near 138A.

[0050]Flower progression with age.—Flowerbuds open from one side insteadof uniform circular opening, slight color fading of ray florets whenaging. Center fades from green to yellow.

[0051] Reproductive organs:

[0052]Ray Florets.—Pistillate Pistil number: 5 Stigma color: near 6CStigma shape: forked Style Color: near 6C Style Length: near 0.6 cm.

[0053]Disc Florets.—Pistillate Pistil Number: 5 Stigma color: near 6CStigma shape: forked Style Color: near 6C Style Length: near 0.1 cm.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum plantnamed ‘Onyx Time Cream’ as described and illustrated.